With her big blond hair, bright lips, bold eyes, Daisy Duke-style denim shorts and raw Tennessee humor, Dee W. Ieye drew bursts of laughter and giggles from her audience as she sold her wares at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts theatre on Feb. 4.

This is the third time America’s No. 1 Tupperware salesperson, as played by actor Kevin Farrell, has brought her, or rather, his Tennessee Tupperware Experience to Covina for a theatre fundraiser.

While the show provided plenty of entertainment as the character Dee talked about growing up in Tennessee with Dolly Parton and her days as a beauty queen, it was just as informative – giving practical solutions to daily dilemmas with Tupperware products.

“Tupperware has changed through the years and so have the Tupperware ladies,” Dee told the audience as she gestured to herself.

Farrell offered his commission on Tupperware sales for the evening to the center as well as box office sales for the show.

The event also featured a silent auction and raffle.

CCPA guild member Barbara Borak said the evening’s show was a near sell-out.

“I hope everybody’s happy with the evening,” she said. “Our main goal is to keep the theatre going. This has been a wonderful community effort.”

Cookie Lee Jewelry, Mary Kay and Barton’s Gift and Collectibles representatives were also on hand to feature some of their items and services for sale as they took part in the evening’s fundraising effort for the theatre.

“I thought Dee was hilarious,” added Stoudt’s fellow season ticket holder, Joyce Strickland of Glendora. “I didn’t know they were also going to be selling Tupperware. There are some things I want.”

Farrell said there are many times when people come to watch his show not expecting to purchase anything.

“That happens more often the not,” he said. “They tell me, `I was just coming to watch the show but because of the way you talked about the product I had to buy it,’ which is great.”

Farrell, an Ohio native, began as a theatre actor before being called to Los Angeles for his first television acting debut on the hit series “Frasier.”

Although he was successful appearing in many other television shows, such as “My Name is Earl,” “Gilmore Girls” and more recently on “Chuck,” Farrell knows where his real success is – with Dee.

“It’s difficult (to find time to audition now). I don’t audition as much as I did six years ago,” he said.

It was six years ago that Dee was born from a brief stint Farrell did for an AIDS benefit charity and then thrown into the Tupperware world.

“I found myself depending on others a lot for support and thought I’m 45 years old, that was fine in my 30s, but I don’t want to do that any more,” said Farrell.

“(This) is satisfying me creatively and that’s where the money was coming from so that’s where I should focus,” he said.

Having a live audience and being on stage made Farrell feel at home, but it still took some convincing from a theatre friend, who was also Tupperware salesperson using a drag character, to get him to dress up as Dee to sell the containers. Once he did, it became natural for Farrell.

“For me personally, I got more comfortable with the character and the character selling the product and I began using (Tupperware) in my own home,” he said. “I’m an actor at heart. It was that joy of wanting to be in front of an audience that was really the passion; the Tupperware was the venue, the vehicle.”

Farrell admits Dee can be quite a lot to take in when he sells Tupperware at home parties. But he’s not just a man dressing in drag, rather “I’m just an actor who plays a character,” he said.

Farrell shows up to the home parties as himself, transforms into Dee for the presentation and sales; then wipes off the Dee makeup off his face and leaves as himself.

“It’s a complete transformation,” he said. “I don’t think I would have the same reaction if it was understated. She’s such a big character – that’s what really commands the space and the attention of the audience. Nothing against other Tupperware (salesperson), they’re my friends. I’m just adding a flair to it.”

The passion for Dee and Tupperware helped Farrell’s lovable Tennessee girl become the top Tupperware salesperson the past four years. Dee also helps Farrell earn a comfortable living.

“It’s really the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.

Farrell does his research just as he would for any other acting role – creating a full background for his character and studying his lines, or product information for that matter.

“Back in the ’80s it was about keeping a clean, organized kitchen,” he said. “Now we have products that people can use for convenience and we have new water bottles that are safer, instead of buying Arrowhead water bottles that end up going in the trash.”

Though he mostly stays local, within an hour’s distance from the Los Angeles area, for his home parties, Farrell occasionally heads back home to Ohio and books a few parties for Dee there.

“I love my job. I call the shots. I can control my income,” he said.

And Farrell’s not waiting around a casting room for his next role, when a sure one is just a red Gingham shirt and red platforms away.